Cutting apparatus for harvesters.



No. 689,||6. Patented Dec. I7, |1901. A. V. PEBRINE, J. H. REBULR .L F. WIEST. CUTTING APPARATUS FoR HARVESTERS.

(Application led Apr. 22, 1901.)

(llo Model.)

Nirnn Apps ernstv rricn.

ANGUS V'. PE'RRINE, .OF KITTANNING, JOHN H. REBOLD, OF MOSGROVE, AND JOSEPH F. WIEST, OF PUNXSUTAVVNEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CUTTING: APPARATUS FOR HARVESTERS.

SPECIFECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,1 16, dated December 1'7, 1901.

Application filed April 22, 1901. Serial No. 56,947. (No model.)

apparatus for harvesters, and has for its ob- Yject to provide a novel and simple cutter-bar and cutters so constructed and arranged that any one of the knives or cutters may be readily removed and replaced without necessitating the removal of the other knives.

It also has for its object to provide a cutting apparatus of the character referred to which will consist of but few parts, will be strong and durable, can be manufactured at a small cost, and in which the parts, while they may be easily and quickly removed, will also be firmly and securely held in place when assembled together.

To these ends our invention consists in the features and in the construction,combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, wherein- Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of our improved cutting apparatus, a portion of the cover-plate being removed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing one of the knives removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4. is a detail View of the cutter-bar and the cover-strip. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the knives. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1, and Fig. S is a detail view of the inner end knife and the staple or strap in which the end of the set-screw works.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the cutter-bar of a harvester, in the under side of which and near its forward edge is formed a longitudinal groove 2, that extends nearly from end to end of the cutterbar. Also formed in the under side of the cutter-bar is a plurality of recesses 3, which extend from the groove 2 transversely across the face of the cutterbar entirely to and 55 through the rear edge of the latter.

Screwed or bolted to the under side of the cutter-bar is a cover-plate 4, consisting of a metallic plate of the same width and length as the cutter-bar and which operates to cover 6o and protect the knives. Each of the knives consists of a dat metallic blade 5, of substantially triangular shape, as usual, and at its rear end is bent down at a right angle, as at 6, and is then bent forward at another right angle into parallelism with the knife-blade, as at 7, to pass over the under side of the cutter-bar. The under bent portion 7 of the knife is provided at its forward edge with a vertical tongue 8, that projects at a right an- 7o gle toward, but does not extend to the knifeblade 5. The tongues 8 are slightly less in width than the recesses 3 in the cutter-blade in order that they may freely pass therein.

The knives are fitted in place by sliding them transversely over the cutter-bar and then moving them forward until their tongues S enter and pass through the recesses 3 and enter the groove 2. Then by laterally moving the knives longitudinally on the cutter-bar 8o the tongues 8 slide along in the groove until the tongues pass beyond the recesses, or, in other words, until the tongues lie in the groove between the solid portions 9 and 10 of the cutter-bar.

For moving the knives into and out of position and for holding them in place we provide the following means: Formed in the under side 'of the cutter-bar, near the inner end of the latter, is a mortise 11, and formed in the 9o inner end of said cutter-bar is a threaded screw-hole 12, which communicates with said mortise. Fitted in the screw-hole is a setscrew 13, the inner end of which projects into the mortise 11 and has formed thereon a 95 circumferential groove 14. The innermost knife 5a has formed in each of its upper and lower parallel portions two slots l5, through' which are adapted to be passed the legs of a staple or U-shaped metallic strap 16, which roo straddles the circumferentially-grooved end of the set-screw 13. The ends of the staple or metallic strap 16 are bent down or clenched over the under portion of the knife It will be obvious that as the set-screw 13 is turned it will rotate within the staple or metallic strap; but as the set-screw is advanced or recedes the knife 5a will move with it. A lock-nut 18 is screwed over the set-screw and is adapted to be screwed up tightly against the end of the cutter-bar' to hold the setscrew against turning.

A shallow groove or recess 19 is formed on the inner side of the cover-plate 4 and extends from near one end of said plate to near the other end thereof and from near the forward edge thereof entirely to the rear edge, the purpose of said groove or recess being to afford a space in which the iianges or angular portions 7 of the knives may freely move when the latter are inserted and removed. The cover-plate operates to cover and protect the anges of the knives and prevent dirt and the like from gaining entrance to the groove and recess in the cutter-bar and also forms a smooth and unbroken bearing-surface for the cutter-bar. It will be noted that each knife completely encirclesthe cutterbar on four sides, thus forming a very strong, rigid, and secure connection between the cutter-bar and the knives, and that no extraneous fastening attachments or means are necessary or employed to hold the knives in place.

After the knives have been inserted in place in the manner described the set-screw 13 is screwed up, forcing all the knives along in the groove 2 until the outer endmost knife reaches the end of the groove, when the knives will be rigidly clamped together in the cutter-bar. The lock-nut 18 is then screwed up against the end of the cutter-bar, effectually preventing the set-screw from becoming accidentally unscrewed.

Should it become necessary to remove any oneofthe knives for the purpose of repairing or sharpening it or for any other purpose, the setscrew is turned back and the knives 'are slid along in the groove 2 u ntil the tongue scribed.

vThe cutter-bar is provided at its inner end -w'ith the usual ear or lug 20 for the attachment of the operating-pitman.

Having described ourlinvention, what we claim is `1. The combination with a cutter-bar hav- 1 ling alongitudinal groove on one side and a said groove to the rearside of the cutter-bar,

of a plurality of knives, each provided with a tongue adapted to pass through one of said recesses and to move in said groove, and means for sliding the knives in said groove and holding them against movement,substan tially as described.

2. The combination with a cutter-bar having a longitudinal groove on one side and a plurality of transverse recesses disposed at equal distances apart and extending from said groove to the rear side of the cutter-bar, of a plurality of knives each constructed to embrace the top and bottom and the rear side of the cutter-bar and provided with a tongue adapted to pass through one of said recesses and slide in said groove, and means for sliding the knives in said groove and holding them against movement, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a cutter-bar having a longitudinal groove on one side and a plurality of transverse recesses disposed at equal distances apart and extending `from said groove to the rear side of the cutter-bar, of a plurality of knives each comprising a flat blade bent at its rear end to embrace the top and bottom and rear side of the cutter-bar and terminating in a vertical tongue adapted to pass through one of said recesses and slide in said groove, and means for sliding =the knives in the groove andholding them against movement, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a cutter-bar having a longitudinal groove on one side and a plurality of transverse recesses disposed at equal distances apart and extendingv from said groove to the rear side of the cutter-bar, of a plurality of knives each comprising aiiat blade bent atv its rear end to embrace the top, bottom'and rear side of the cutter-bar and terminating in a vertical tongue adapted t0 pass through one of said recesses and'slide in said groove, a cover-strip fastened to the cutter-bar on the grooved and recessed side of the latter, said cover-plate beingreces'sed on its inner side to'permitof vthe freemovement of the knives,and means for sliding said knives in the groove and holding them against movement, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a cutter-bar having a longitudinal groove on one side and a plurality of transverse recesses disposed atequal distances apart and extending from said groove to the rear side ofthe cutter-bar, of a plurality of knives each comprising a dat blade bent at its rear end to embrace theitop, bottom and rear side of the cutter-bar and vterminating in avertical tongue of less width than the knife-blade and adapted to pass through one of said recesses and slide in said groove, and a set-screw carried by one end of the cutter-bar and loosely connected to the adjacent end knife, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a cutter-baFhaving a longitudinal groove on one slide and a IOO saillie ro of the cutter-bar and provided with a circumferential groove in its inner end, and a staple passing through the parallel portions of the endmost .knife and straddling the grooved end of the set-screw, substantially as described. l

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set ourmhands in presence of tWo subscribing wit# nesses.

ANGUS V. PERRINE. JOHN H. REBOLD. 1 JOSEPH F. WIEST.

Witnesses:

J AMES M. STONE, S. F. BooHE. 

